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Grosgrain Archives

January 21, 2010

As you are reading this I am probably in surgery hoping everything goes okay. I have been very nervous about this birth. With my last pregnancy, the anaesthesiologist punctured my spinal fluid when doing my epidural. I did not find this out until I began to get a terrible headache days later that could not be dulled by any of the strong pain medication I was taking. It wasn't until I was about to be discharged that I was told about the puncture and that my headache was caused by a leaking in my spine of the fluid surrounding my brain causing my brain to sag. Gross. I've read that this happens in about 1% of epidurals.

I also had to have a blood transfusion because I became dangerously anemic and throughout the six days we spent there, none of the physicians could find a vein out of the 200 or so times I was poked and prodded. I left the hospital quite sore and black and blue from head to back.

So now I am a little leery about routine hospital procedures and I'm about to have a gazillon done to me today. I'm so nervous. Especially for the epidural which I never particularly looked forward to.

It's strange knowing the exact day, almost hour, that you are going to have a baby. I don't think I particularly like knowing. I like the anticipation and surprise of rushing to the hospital. However, I am now SOO uncomfortable that having a definite end date has become a welcome blessing. Read my TumTum Tree post on Pica.

I have a few more posts scheduled while I am in the hospital so please come back again later for more sewing and fashion fun. But until I can get back to a computer I will not be able to post anything about the baby or approve comments so please don't be offended if your comment doesn't post until next week. Hopefully Sunday or Monday we will be back home.

I'm thinking of you today and hoping for only good things! I hope all goes well and you are able to come home with no or little to no black and blue marks..oh and the terrible headache...none of that either! So excited to see your new addition!! :)

I had the same problem with my epidural. Oh, the headaches. Mine lasted two weeks. I'm so sorry. Especially with your first baby. Mine was with my third.

Tell the docs and nurses what happened to you last time and they will be more aware and more cautious this time (I know, you're thinking, "Shouldn't they be cautious ANYWAY?" Unfortunately medical professionals tend to get comfortable with what they do every day and get a little relaxed. I can say this because I have worked in hospitals and clinics my entire adult life and have been through three births.) But the odds are that this one will be better! I hope you have a wonderful experience. Every birth should be.

On a side note, your blog is so inspiring. I've had it on my google reader for over a year now. I've been sewing for my daughter and myself for about 10 years but have never risen above novice. Your ideas and creativity inspire me.

All the best, super exciting!! I had 4 children with different epidurals each time, administered differenty by different anaesthetists (that's what we call them in Australia) & each one was fine, taped up my back, i could walk, shower, bend & stretch, i was lucky!! Also nice & relaxed & delivered them all different ways, forceps, normal, breech (second twin) then normal. Wishing you a different experience this time with a beautiful baby as the result. Love Posie

BEST OF LUCK TO YOU CUTE GIRL !!! My daughter will be having her 2nd C- section mid May when she will deliver her 2 baby, another girl---> "YEAH!" says this grandma!!! I just want to THANK YOU for all of your creative postings as you have motivated even me to try some new things!! CONGRATULATIONS !!!

That happened to me with my first baby. I am so scared it will happen again. It was the most aweful experience and negatively affected me and the baby for several weeks after the birth. Good Luck to you! I hope everything goes well.

I say the craziest stuff sometimes - don't post that last comment. I do hope everything goes well. And, never fear some *cough* crazy *cough* people love the hospital (like my sister). She has 5 children and loves the hospital so much she calls it 'the hotel'. And, says it's even better than a hotel because people serve you food and they check up on you to see if you need anything - plus she gets a 'vaction' from house chores. Like I said crazy, lol.

i winced when i read about your spinal headache. same thing happened with my VBAC. on day 3 i needed a blood patch to 'plug the hole' in my spin. so much more tramatic then the emergency c-section with my first daughter. hope you're healing quickly.